Theatrical spot light gel holder



May 6, 1958 umxuum muwlkvii iiml Filed Aug. 9, 1955 231mm KUUW IN VENTOR. Fonz/er L/ BEECl/Ek A TTOENE Y- United This invention relates tostage and display lighting equipment, and more particularly to a lamphousing and color medium frame for use with a reflector type sealedfilament lamp in various spot and flood lighting applications.

Heretofore spot lights for theatrical stage lighting have been designedfor use with high wattage concentrated filament lamps and utilizecondensers disposed forwardly of the lamp, rather than reflectors behindthe filament, to concentrate the light. Color mediums enclosed in metalframes are inserted between the lamp and condenser through apertures inthe sides of the lamp house through which random shafts of unwantedwhite light spill out laterally of the main beam.

Similarly, the flood lights now generally used in stage lighting arenothing more than concave box-like units designed to confine the lightbut not reflect it, and have frontal openings disposed in a generallyvertical plane over which color mediums supported in metal frames aresuperposed by sliding them into transverse channels along the top andbottom of the opening. Since these color frames must be loose fittingfor convenience in inserting and removing them, more often than notareas of white light will be visible on the illuminated surfaces, andare particularly conspicuous when the color frame is not accuratelycentered.

Both flood and spotlights presently in use are heavily constructed andperforated profusely with baffle-covered louvres to dissipate theextreme heat characteristic of conventional high wattage incandescentlamps. Moreover, they are designed to emit light in a generallyhorizontal direction from the vertically disposed filament of a lampburning tip up and, consequently, are not suitable for use with lamps ofthe presently available reflector type which throw their light in adirection axially aligned with the lamp, its filament, reflector andsocket.

With the foregoing in mind, together with considerations of cost, weightand portability, the present invention will be seen to have a number ofimportant objectives, some of which are included in the following:

One important object of my invention is the provision of a lamp housingin which the light emitting aperture is disposed in a planeperpendicular to the axial centerline of the lamp and its socket.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a housing whichcan be used with any standard socket fitting of ceramic or metallicconstruction together with presently available attachments for clampingthe unit in position, and is further adapted to burn the new reflectortype, sealed filament spot and flood lamps.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a lamp housinghaving means for receiving various color mediums and for retaining themin a manner in which no rays or reflections of white light will bevisible on the illuminated surfaces or around the light emittingaperture of the housing, yet permitting the color mediums to be removedand replaced without the use of any tools.

tes Patent C) 2,833,915 Patented May 6, 1958 A still further object ofmy invention is the provision of a lamp housing as previously describedwhich, also, is of such shape and general conformation that a pluralityof them may be compactly internested in relatively small space when theyare stored or shipped.

In brief, my invention consists of a substantially cylindrical bodyportion open at one end and longitudinally extended therefrom withprogressively diminished diameters to provide an arcuately convexlongitudinally side wall profile, and terminated in a truncated endportion parallel to the plane of the open end, the truncated end surfacebeing solid except for a perforation therein dimensioned to receive astandard socket fitting. The open end of the body portion is providedwith a radially-offset axially-extended right angular circumferentialflange adapted to receive a color medium mounted in a circular frame,the flange and the frame having cooperating studs and slots forinserting and holding the frame in position.

Other important features and objects of my invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description and specification of onepreferred embodiment thereof when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side view of the lamp housing of my invention with a portionof the outer surface broken away to reveal the manner in which the colorframe fits within the flanged opening;

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the bottom of the housing;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a frame holding a thingelatinous color medium positioned in the circumferential flange of theopening; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a frame holding a thick glasscolor medium secured in the flanged opening of the housing.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the lamp housing 1 of my invention is seen tohave a flanged opening 2 at one end, shown in detail in Fig. 2, and atruncated opposite end 3 of reduced diameter disposed in a planeparallel to that of the open end 2. The main body portion of the housingis tapered from the large open end to the small closed end 3, thusproviding an arcuately convex side surface 4. The truncated end 3 isclosed except for a perforation therein dimensioned to receive aconventional socket fitting.

Around the open end 2 of the housing 1 is a circumferential rightangular flange, including a radially offset shoulder 5 and an axiallyextended rim 6, and terminated in a circular edge 7.

The rim 6 is best seen in Fig. 2 which also shows a circular frame 8holding a color medium 9 in the flanged opening. Frame 8 actuallyconsists of outer and inner flat rings 8a and 8b which are made ofstrong but generally flexible sheet metal between which the gelatinecolor medium 9 is retained. The two rings 8a and 8b and the interposedcolor medium 9, as better seen in Figs. 3 and 4, are held injuxtaposition by simple, quickly detachable fasteners 10 represented byconventional paper fasteners the heads of which are seen in Fig. 2, andthe outwardly bent inner ends in Figs. 3 and 4.

A notch 11 is provided in the edge of the frame 8 as seen in Fig. 2, andthe frame 8 is secured in place in the flange by inserting one edge ofthe frame beneath an inwardly extending stud 12, mounted in rim 6, thenpositioning the notch 11 over an opposite stud 13, pressing the frameinwardly against the inner face of the radial shoulder 5, and rotatingthe frame to bring the notch 11 out of alignment with the stud 13.

In Fig. 3, which is a through section of the flanged edge and the frame,the color medium 9a retained between the two frame rings 8a and 8b iscomposed of relatively thin material such as gelatin, the frame membersare relatively parallel with an open space 16 therebetween outwardly ofthe color medium, and the frame lies loosely on studs 13, with aventilation space 14 being defined between the frame and shoulder 5, andbetween the periphery of the frame and flange 6.

In Fig. 4, however, the color medium 9 shown therein is of thickermaterial such as plastic or glass, and may in some cases require theapplication of a slight pressure to the frame 8 adjacent the notch 11 todepress the generally flexible outer frame member 8b under the studs 12and 13. The color frame is quickly removed from the flange by rotatingthe frame so that the stud member 13 aligns within the notch 11, and thecolor medium itself is quickly removed from the frame by detaching oneof the three fasteners 10. Color medium 9, as shown, consists in aseries of parallel strips of glass, with edges abutting at 17.

Ventilation openings 15 are provided in the upper end of housing 1, sothat air entering through annular ventilation space 14 may escape at theupper end of the housing, thus creating, by convection, a cooling flowof air passing upwardly around the color frame 8.

Lamp bulbs may be easily replaced by removing frame 8 and replacing thelamps through the open bottom of the housing.

Since there are many substances that may be used as color mediums andfor directing and diffusing the light emitted from the lamp housing, noinvention is claimed concerning the medium itself, and it has been shownand referred to herein merely to show the manner in which the frame andhousing cooperate therewith to provide a light tight lamp house andcolor frame attachment means from which no spills or reflections ofuncolored light can escape.

Although this invention, in order to comply with the statute, has beendescribed in terms more or less specific in a single mechanicalembodiment, it is to be understood that the embodiment described hereinis for the purpose of illustration, and that the details thereof aresubject to change, and the invention as herein described is to belimited only to the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a lamp of the type described: a housing including a reflector bodyhaving a cylindrical forward portion, a radial flange providing ashoulder projecting outwardly from the forward end of said cylindricalportion and a cylindrical rim flange projecting axially forwardly fromsaid shoulder; a light beam framing and transmitting assembly includinga frame comprising a pair of axially spaced, generally parallel, opaque,substantially flat rings having a maximum diameter somewhat less thanthe inner diameter of said rim and an inner diameter less than the innerdiameter of said cylindrical forward portion of the reflector body, acolored light diffusing medium of disc form having a marginal portionembraced and supported between the inner portions of said rings, and aplurality of fastener elements bridging between and connecting saidrings in clamping engagement with said color medium, said fastenerelements being disposed just outwardly of the periphery of said colormedium to locate the same in coaxial relation to said ring; and meansfor detachably securing said light beam transmitting and framing unitwithin said rim and against said shoulder, including a plurality ofretainer pins anchored in said rim and projecting radially inwardly inoverlapping contact with the outer ring, said rings having registeringperipheral notches adapted, upon rotation of said unit, to register withand receive one of said pins to permit that side of said unit to betilted away from said shoulder to a position clearing the margin of saidrim so that said unit may be lifted out of the housing and said pinsbeing so spaced from said shoulder as to secure said frame in contactwith said shoulder.

2. In a lamp of the type described: a housing including a reflector bodyhaving a cylindrical forward portion, a radial flange providing ashoulder projecting outwardly from the forward end of said cylindricalportion and a cylindrical rim flange projecting axially forwardly fromsaid shoulder; a light beam framing and transmitting assembly includinga frame comprising a pair of axially spaced, generally parallel, opaque,substantially flat rings having a maximum diameter somewhat less thanthe inner diameter of said rim and an inner diameter less than the innerdiameter of said cylindrical forward portion of the reflector body, acolored light diffusing medium of disc form having a marginal portionembraced and supported between the inner portions of said rings, and aplurality of fastener elements bridging between and connecting saidrings in clamping engagement with said color medium, said fastenerelements being disposed just outwardly of the periphery of said colormedium to locate the same in coaxial relation to said ring; and meansfor detachably securing said light beam transmitting and framing unitwithin said rim and against said shoulder, including a plurality ofretainer pins anchored in said rim and projecting radially inwardly inoverlapping contact with the outer ring, said rings having registeringperipheral notches adapted, upon rotation of said unit, to register withand receive one of said pins to permit that side of said unit to betilted away from said shoulder to a position clearing the margin of saidrim so that said unit may be lifted out of the housing and said pinsbeing so spaced from said shoulder as to secure said frame in contactwith said shoulder, said color medium comprising a series of parallelsided strips of rigid transparent sheet material of selector colors,associated in edge to edge abutting engagement in a zonal arrangementtraversing the circular periphery of said color medium and retained bythe clamping action of said rings against the peripheral portionsthereof, said discs being of resilient metal and spaced by saidtransparent strips in a spacing so related to the spacing of said pinsfrom said shoulder that the peripheral portions of said rings are sprungtoward one another and thereby yieldingly loaded in clamping engagementwith said color medium strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,821,955 Wuelker Sept. 8, 1931 1,870,642 Ohm Aug. 9, 1932 2,401,044Brandt May 28, 1946 2,437,522 Handler Mar. 9, 1948 2,785,291 BernsteinMar. 12, 1957

